Micro-spectrometer design for nano-satellite applications

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Nanosatellites (spacecraft with mass less than 10 kilograms) offer novel opportunities for HQP training, technology demonstration, and advanced space-based research. The next generations of nanosatellites are already replacing conventional (large-scale, expensive, state-operated) satellites for a variety of private industry and academic research missions, including animal tracking, vessel tracking, communication, resource monitoring, atmospheric science, weather forecasting and geophysics. For the past 8 years we have conducted research to develop new technologies that extend the capabilities of the nanosatellite platform for both industrial and scientific purposes. In the proposed research, we propose to extend this research, in partnership with COM DEV Canada Ltd., to develop a novel miniature optical payload, based on micro-optics technology, namely a micro Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometer (SHS) for nanosatellite applications. Miniaturizing optical instruments is a critical research area in space engineering which aims to take advantage of the nanosatellite platform to cheaply and rapidly advance our atmospheric observational capability. The proposed research builds on a previous study on spectrometer design at York University where a prototype interferometric spectrometer was developed. The previously designed prototype spectrometer was developed for water vapour detection using spatial heterodyne technique that offers high throughput, high spectral resolution and no moving parts. The proposed research is an extension of the previous work and aims to use micro-fabrication techniques to design and fabricate a fully integrated micro-spectrometer .in a highly compact package ideal for atmospheric observations on nanosatellites.